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Budget Cuts Threaten Program for Struggling Businesses
April 28, 2011
For the better part of a decade, Hispanic Business Consulting has trained people to help them start their own business.
But with a growing number of small businesses closing their doors in a tough economy , the Santa Ana-based consulting firm has shifted its focus to help struggling existing Hispanic firms stay in business.
“Our goal is to stop the bleeding, expand businesses and create jobs,” said Eduardo Figueroa, owner of HBC, which is contracted by the City of Santa Ana’s Work Center to provide services with the Work Force Investment Act (WIA) funds.
In the last year alone, HBC with funding from the City has assisted more than 89 businesses in Santa Ana and nearly 250 individuals who took educational seminars and classes to improve their business skills.
Those business assistance programs are in jeopardy as the U.S. government looks at ways of balancing the budget. A House measure would cut more than $100 billion in spending, which includes eliminating WIA finding completely.
WIA programs are about more than just numbers. HBC classes have made a difference for Consuelo Arredondo and her three restaurants that employ more than 100 workers. The self-taught entrepreneur took advantage of a handful of HBC programs to grow her restaurants and help them operate more efficiently.
Over the past year she successfully completed classes in customer service, marketing, administration and a 10-week course on growing her business. The classes were offered in both English and Spanish.
The classes gave Arredondo the tools to better manage her restaurants and employees, and more importantly, the confidence to expand one of her restaurants in a tough environment.
When a neighboring flower shop closed, Arredondo took over the vacant 900 square feet, doubling the size of one of her two Santa Ana restaurants.
She also operates a third restaurant in Costa Mesa. Although she has served quality Mexican food since 1987, Arredondo lacked knowhow in several key business areas.
“I was working hard and not getting anywhere,” she recalled. “I kept getting in trouble.”
Now after taking the courses she knows what to do.
The newly acquired knowledge translated into a better run business and more attention being paid to marketing and customer services. Monthly sales also have more than doubled.
Now when she comes across something she doesn’t know or needs advice, Arredondo picks up the phone and calls Eduardo at HBC.
“The classes and mentoring gave her the confidence to take the risk,” said Eduardo Figueroa, HBC owner. “But we are always here to help our clients.”
